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Guidance

DNA Anti-Contamination – Forensic Medical

Examination in Sexual Assault Referral Centres

and Custodial Facilities

FSR-G-207

ISSUE 1

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Forensic Science Regulator

GUIDANCE – GUIDANCE – GUIDANCE – GUIDANCE – GUIDANCE – GUIDANCE – GUIDANCE – GUIDANCE – GUIDANCE

FSR-G-207 ISSUE 1 of 20

1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 3

2. SCOPE ........................................................................................................................ 4

3. IMPLEMENTATION .................................................................................................... 4

4. MODIFICATION .......................................................................................................... 4

5. TERMINOLOGY .......................................................................................................... 4

6. ANTI-CONTAMINATION MEASURES (Codes section 19.2) ...................................... 5

7. PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY .......................................................................... 6

7.1 Personnel: Training and competence (Codes sections 17 and 18) ..................... 6

8. FACILITIES ................................................................................................................. 7

9. PACKAGING AND GENERAL CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS (Codes section 12) .. 9

9.2 Consumables ...................................................................................................... 9

9.3 Equipment ......................................................................................................... 10

9.4 Use of personal barrier / protective equipment (FSR-G-208 section 18.3.18-20)

.......................................................................................................................... 11

10. METHODS AND PROCEDURES .............................................................................. 12

11. DOCUMENTATION ................................................................................................... 13

11.1 Exhibit labelling ................................................................................................. 13

11.2 Note taking and record keeping (Codes section 15) ......................................... 13

11.3 Statements and reports (Codes section 25) ...................................................... 14

12. REVIEW .................................................................................................................... 14

13. ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................... 14

14. REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 15

15. GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................... 17




1. INTRODUCTION

1.1.1 The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for the ‘forensic medical’

examination of persons.

1.1.2 This interim guidance sets out the Forensic Science Regulator’s minimum DNA

anti-contamination recommendations for the forensic medical examination of

persons examined in sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) or custodial

settings such as police custody suites.

1.1.3 All healthcare professionals (HCP) providing forensic science services including

evidential sample collection shall take due regard of the Forensic Science

Regulator’s Codes of Practice and Conduct for Providers and Practitioners in

the Criminal Justice System (the Codes)1 as it applies to them.

1.1.4 In the examination process the principle is to minimise the inadvertent transfer

of DNA material that could lead to the risk of a miscarriage of justice. This

includes the risk of wrongful conviction(s) or wrongful acquittal(s),obstructing or

delaying investigation(s).

1.1.5 There are potentially many routes by which contamination may occur; FSR-P-

302 (section1) provides further detail. By controlling the environment,

personnel, consumables and sampling procedures it is possible to minimise the

opportunities for contamination events; some example contamination routes are

provided in the table 1 below.

Direct transfer

Sample to Environment/item

Environment/item to Sample

Consumable to Sample

Person to Environment/item

Indirect transfer – secondary transfer

Environment/item to Examinee to Sample

Environment/item to Consumable to Sample

Environment/item to Practitioner to Sample

Environment/item to Environment/item to Sample

Person to Examinee to Sample

Person to Environment/item to Sample

Sample 1 to Environment/item to Sample 2

1 Forensic Science Regulator’s Codes of Practice and Conduct for Providers and Practitioners in the Criminal

Justice System. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/forensic-science-providers-codes-of-practice-and-conduct-2016

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/forensic-science-providers-codes-of-practice-and-conduct-2016






Indirect transfer – tertiary transfer

Person to Environment/item to Consumable to Sample

Person to Environment/item to Examinee to Sample

Environment/item to Environment/item to Examinee to Sample

Environment/item to Environment/item to Practitioner to Sample

Sample 1 to Environment/item to Examinee to Sample 2

Table 1: Examples of routes where contamination of DNA may occur

2. SCOPE

2.1.1 This guidance covers the minimum DNA anti-contamination practices and

processes for the taking of personal samples and recovery of other trace

evidence for forensic analysis from examinations, carried out in sexual assault

referral centres or custodial settings such as police custody suites.

3. IMPLEMENTATION

3.1.1 This guidance is available for incorporation into an organisation’s standard

practice, operating procedures and quality management system from the date

of publication and immediate implementation is strongly recommended. Full

compliance with the requirements set out in this guidance is expected by April

2017.

4. MODIFICATION

4.1.1 This is issued as interim guidance. Detailed requirements will be issued in due

course, therefore the status of some of the guidance may be changed from

good practice (should) to a mandatory requirement (shall/must).

5. TERMINOLOGY

5.1.1 The word ‘shall’2 has been used in this document where there is a

corresponding requirement in the Forensic Science Regulator’s Codes; the

word ‘should’3 has been used to indicate generally accepted practice where the

reason for not complying or any deviation shall be recorded.

2 In good medical practice ‘shall’ equates to ‘must’, which is used for an overriding duty or principle.

3 In good medical practice ‘should’ is used when providing an explanation of how to meet the overriding duty

and where the duty or principle will not apply in all situations or circumstances, or where there are factors




6. ANTI-CONTAMINATION MEASURES (Codes section 19.2)

6.1.1 The Codes provide detailed requirements on contamination avoidance,

monitoring and detection; section 19.2.2 of the Codes describes steps to be

taken in establishing procedures relevant to contamination control.

6.1.2 From conducting a hazard or risk-based analysis (for example, process

mapping) with respect to contamination, the following conditions to prevent

cross-contamination should apply4.

a. The practitioner undertaking the forensic medical examination of a

complainant should not provide any medical examination or any other

service to the alleged suspect in the same case, for example, where the

suspect is in custody.

b. Where the provider of forensic medical practitioners delivers services to

both the SARC and custodial settings, there should be two separate rotas

in operation to ensure that the forensic medical practitioner available for

sexual offence forensic medical examinations of complainants is not used

for custody medicine at that time.

c. In the event that multiple complainants from the same crime attend the

SARC at the same time, or multiple suspects from the same alleged crime

are in custody at the same time, staff should ensure that they do not have

contact with multiple individuals linked to the same crime, in order to

prevent cross-contamination.

d. Police officers shall already have general forensic awareness training to

maintain and record separation of potentially conflicting or cross-

contaminating activities to ensure that suspects and complainants are

transported separately and that each individual is dealt with by different

outside the forensic practitioner/healthcare professional’s control that affect whether or how guidance can be followed. See the General Medial Council (GMC) Good Medical Practice Guide. 4 In exceptional circumstances (for example, very remote locations) where it becomes necessary to use the

same forensic practitioner/healthcare professional, the reason and rationale behind the decision and the steps that have been undertaken to reduce the risk of contamination shall be documented. For example, cleaning of mobile equipment including the outer surface of a medical bag; showering including hair wash; and a change of clothes shall be recorded and documented in the sexual assault referral centre (SARC) and/or custody record as appropriate and disclosed in any subsequent report or statement.




staff5 If it becomes apparent that this practice has been breached then the

appropriate information shall be documented, brought to the attention of

the appropriate personnel and disclosed in any subsequent report or

statement.

7. PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

7.1 Personnel: Training and competence (Codes sections 17 and 18)

7.1.1 The training and competency requirements set out in sections 17 and 18 of the

Codes should apply.

7.1.2 All healthcare professionals working in the police custodial setting or Sexual

Assault Referral Centres (SARC) should have undergone training and

assessment of competency6 7 in the forensic areas within which they are

working and should work within their competence. This includes personnel with

responsibility for the decontamination cleaning of the forensic areas of the

facility (for example, crisis worker).

7.1.3 Processes should be in place for assessing and maintaining on-going

competency, for example, this can include peer review, feedback on

environmental monitoring, samples taken, information provided to accompany

submissions for analysis and laboratory test results8 9.

5 See FSR 206 section 6.1.7-9, 6.1.20 and 6.2 for further information on DNA anti-contamination strategy.

6 ‘The UK Association of Forensic Nurses (UKAFN), College of Paramedics and Faculty of Forensic and

Legal Medicine (FFLM) have agreed that the minimum competency standard for all healthcare professionals (nurses, paramedics and doctors) working in the fields of general forensic medicine or sexual offence medicine should be either the UKAFN Advanced Standards in Education and Training (ASET) or the Licentiate of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (LFFLM)’. http://www.fflm.ac.uk/2015/10/spress-release-doctors-nurses-and-paramedics-working-in-police-custody-call-for-standards-to-protect-patients-and-avoid-miscarriages-of-justice/ 7 The Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine has published standards for healthcare professionals (doctors,

nurses and paramedics) working in the these settings available at :

http://www.fflm.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Quality-Standards-in-Forensic-Medicine-February-2016.pdf and http://www.fflm.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Quality-Standards-for-Nurses-and-Paramedics-General-Forensic-Medicine-May-2016.pdf

8 Procedures to assess quality and feedback to the practitioner or service provider should be in place having

been developed collaboratively between the providers of forensic practitioners and the police.

9 Nittis, M., Stark, M. (2014) Evidence based practice: Laboratory feedback informs forensic specimen

collection in NSW.

http://www.fflm.ac.uk/2015/10/spress-release-doctors-nurses-and-paramedics-working-in-police-custody-call-for-standards-to-protect-patients-and-avoid-miscarriages-of-justice/



http://www.fflm.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Quality-Standards-in-Forensic-Medicine-February-2016.pdf


http://www.fflm.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Quality-Standards-for-Nurses-and-Paramedics-General-Forensic-Medicine-May-2016.pdf





7.1.4 In addition to adhering to any professional requirements (for example, from the

Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine [FFLM], Royal College of Paediatrics

and Child Health [RCPCH] and college of paramedics) or regulatory

requirements (for example, from the General Medical Council [GMC] and

Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC]), the code of conduct for forensic science

practitioners given on page 11 of the Codes shall be followed.

8. FACILITIES

8.1.1 As a minimum this guidance applies to any room or area used for receiving

persons for examination, medical examination and/or sample collection/storage.

8.1.2 There should be a named person within the facility with responsibility for

ensuring that a suitable environment is provided. This will enable the

practitioner to carry out their duties appropriately, without compromising the

integrity of any material or samples recovered. Any quality issues should be

reported to this named person10

Accommodation and environmental conditions (Codes sections 19.1, 19.2.3 and

23.3)

8.1.3 An identified room where the forensic medical examination or sample collection

will take place should be designated the ‘DNA clean’/‘forensic examination’ area

in readiness for use.

8.1.4 Walls, floors and furniture should be of smooth finish, sealed and resistant to

deterioration from frequent cleaning11.

8.1.5 Chairs should be height adjustable and shall be made or covered by non-

porous material such as vinyl, which can withstand frequent cleaning.

8.1.6 Drawer units should provide sufficient storage capacity to enable work surfaces

to be kept clear, other than for equipment in use.

8.1.7 There should be no strong air currents, notably from fans, vents or windows that

may be positioned near the examination, sampling and packaging areas. The

10 This should include informing the police forensic submissions/science unit.

11 Any new build post-October 2016 shall be required the meet the ideal practice as standard.





management of cleaning, monitoring, handling and sampling procedures shall

take account of the risk of contamination (Codes 19.2.2a).

8.1.8 Decontamination (deep) cleaning of the whole forensic area using cleaning

agent(s) and method(s) demonstrated to be effective12 13 in removing levels of

DNA detected using routine profiling methods (Ballantyne et al., 2015) should

be carried out at least monthly to remove build-up of DNA contamination, see

FSR-G- 208 section 8.6)

8.1.9 Cleaning should be undertaken wearing sufficient barrier clothing (ibid., section

9.4) and glove management to prevent, as a minimum, transferring DNA from:

a. room and items to self;

b. self to room and items;

c. items to room;

d. items to items; and

e. room to room.

8.1.10 As a minimum, cleaning of high risk surfaces and equipment14 shall be

undertaken prior to each examination. In sexual assault referral centres

(SARCs), cleaning of high risk areas shall also be carried out after each

examination.

8.1.11 A record of the cleaning shall be maintained. As a minimum this should record

date, time and operator.

8.1.12 The number of persons accessing the medical examination room shall be

minimised by restricting access (Codes 19.2.3) to authorised personnel. The

documentation held shall record as a minimum, the date and time when each

client was examined, the practitioner(s) and any other persons in attendance.

12 National Institute of Justice Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, (2011) Comparison Study of

Disinfectants for Decontamination.

13 Examples of cleaning agents include 10% sodium hypochlorite (bleach, Presept™) solution, 1% Solution

Rely+On™ Virkon®, Microsol (10 %) and Distel (1%) (Trigene Advance).

14 These are surfaces and items that have a risk of transferring DNA directly to the examinee or to the

consumables used to recover and package samples and exhibits.




8.1.13 There should be a programme of testing rooms, areas and/or equipment to

assess whether the decontamination policy is both effective and has been

carried out properly, i.e. environmental monitoring, see FSR-G-208 section 8.7).

9. PACKAGING AND GENERAL CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS (Codes

section 12)

9.1.1 Customers and providers shall ensure that any sample, packaging and/or

collection kits15 they use are fit for purpose.

9.1.2 Areas used for the storage and handling of consumables, samples and

exhibits16 shall be secure and access shall be restricted to authorised personnel

only (Codes 23.3).

Packaging

9.1.3 The packaging of collected material shall preserve the integrity of the potential

material for forensic examination and minimise the risk of loss, degradation or

contamination.

9.1.4 As a minimum this should include:

a. separate packaging of items where the packaging of items together is

likely to compromise them;

b. the appropriate packaging for the size, condition and forensic analysis

requirements of the material recovered; and

c. secure sealing.

9.2 Consumables

9.2.1 Consumables are single-use commodities used in the collection, preservation

and processing of material for forensic analysis, and are bought and used

routinely. These include barrier / personal protective equipment, tamper evident

15 This can be demonstrated by consumable manufacturers and kit assemblers meeting the requirements set

out for DNA consumables in BS ISO 18385:2016 Minimising the risk of human DNA contamination in products used to collect, store and analyse biological material for forensic purposes and for other non-DNA consumables in the publicly available specification (PAS) 377:2012 Specification for consumables used in the collection, preservation and processing of material for forensic analysis – Requirements for product, manufacturing and forensic kit assembly.

16 The requirements for drying cabinets and temporary storage areas are set out in FSR-G-206 section 10).




containers, swabs, and packaging that comes into direct contact with the

material for forensic analysis. A consumable can also be equipment used in the

collection, processing and safe handling of the material, for example,

disposable tweezers or scissors.

9.2.2 Consumables utilised shall be such that they minimise the risk of DNA

contamination. As a minimum, sampling items such as swabs and water that

are declared as free from detectable human DNA17/’forensic DNA grade’18 shall

be used. A record of the batch/lot information shall be recorded.

9.2.3 Whether stored at the facility, in the examination room or carried by the

practitioner, as a minimum swabs, water ampoules, barrier clothing (suits,

aprons and sleeve covers), gloves and exhibit bags shall be protected from the

environment, either by outer protective packaging or packaged as part of a kit.

9.3 Equipment

9.3.1 Based on the risk assessment (Codes 19.2.2a) wherever possible the use of re-

usable equipment (for example, tweezers, scissors or pens) should be avoided.

9.3.2 Equipment that is not disposable and needs to be reused (for example,

colposcope, stethoscope, computer keyboards, mouse) shall be

decontaminated between each examination.

9.3.3 The cleaning agent(s) and method used shall be demonstrated to be effective in

removing detectable levels of DNA19 and do not interfere with downstream DNA

processing. A cleaning process example is as follows.

a. Items not suitable for immersion in fluid without being damaged should be

thoroughly cleaned using disposable cleaning roll or wipes liberally wetted

with a chemical that inactivates and removes DNA. If equipment will have

direct contact with sampling materials or has health and safety implications

17 Human DNA is not detectable by the most sensitive DNA profiling techniques available.

18 Demonstrated by compliance to BS ISO18385:2016 Minimising the risk of human DNA contamination in

products used to collect, store and analyse biological material for forensic purposes.

19 Examples of cleaning agents include 10% sodium hypochlorite (bleach, Presept™) solution, 1% Solution

Rely+On™ Virkon®, Ethanol (70% w/w) and Chlorhexadine Digluconate (2.5%w/w) wipes, Isopropyl Alcohol

(70%) wipes (Azo wipes), Microsol (10 %) and Distel (1%) (Trigene Advance).




then the cleaning process should ensure that all residues of the cleaning

agent is removed, for example, by cleaning with sterile water. Where

equipment or items are susceptible to corrosion, then an appropriate

cleaning agent that does not corrode20 should be used.

b. Small items thought to be contaminated that are suitable for immersion in

fluid without damaging them should be submerged in a cleaning agent,

scrubbed/wiped down to remove material. If equipment will have direct

contact with sampling materials or has health and safety implications then

it should be rinsed in sterile distilled water and placed in clean sealed

protective packaging (for example, bag, plastic box) in readiness for the

next use.

9.4 Use of personal barrier / protective equipment (FSR-G-208 section 18.3.18-

20)

9.4.1 For the examination, persons who are not critical to the examination or support

of the victim should be excluded where possible, for example, police and family

members; all in attendance shall as a minimum wear protective barrier clothing

as defined below:

a. disposable barrier clothing to cover exposed/bare skin and the outer

clothing to prevent DNA transfer onto outer clothing, which is subsequently

transferred onto a handled item or another person, such as scrubs or

aprons and disposable sleeve covers;

b. non-latex powder free21 gloves (for example, nitrile).

It is also preferable for a mask and mob cap to be worn.

9.4.2 Hands shall be decontaminated before donning gloves, and following their

removal.

20 Activ8™ contains no oxidising or corrosive ingredients and can therefore be used with confidence on all

surfaces including fabrics and carpets. King’s College London and Metropolitan Police Service (2015) Cleaning project.

21 The powder in many types of gloves has been found to inhibit subsequent DNA analysis and can

potentially contaminate items being handled, therefore powdered gloves should be avoided.




9.4.3 Double gloving with changes of the top gloves when handling different sample

sites, before handling equipment or after touching any other surfaces, such as

taps, door handles, bins, curtains, shall be employed.

9.4.4 For the cleaning activities, the following protective barrier clothing shall be worn

and put on in the following order:

a. face mask;

b. overshoes;

c. mob cap;

d. inner base gloves;

e. disposable lab coat, ‘scrubs’ scene suit or apron and sleeve covers; and

f. outer gloves.

9.4.5 Protective barrier clothing shall be changed after every forensic examination,

cleaning or maintenance task.

9.4.6 The protective barrier clothing shall be appropriately disposed of after use

(Codes 23.4).

10. METHODS AND PROCEDURES

10.1.1 Prior to using the examination room the forensic medical practitioner shall

satisfy themselves that adequate cleaning has taken place. If there is any doubt

as to the integrity of the cleanliness then in addition to the couch cover,

disposable sheeting shall be placed onto surfaces such as trolley, table, desks

to act as a barrier prior to use.

10.1.2 Any quality or integrity issue shall be brought to the attention of the centre or

appropriate facility manager and a record of the issue, date, time and to whom

the matter was reported shall be documented.

10.1.3 Following investigation it could require escalation to the Forensic Science

Regulator; examples are provided in the Codes section14.1.

10.1.4 A record of all persons in attendance at any time and the protective measures

taken during the examination shall be maintained.




10.1.5 The Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (FFLM) sampling guidelines

should be followed.

10.1.6 If required to use moistened swabs for sampling, then fresh clean gloves shall

be worn to open the water ampoule and the initial drops of water shall be

discarded as a means to flush the nozzle before wetting the swab; if the nozzle

makes contact with any contaminated surface then the water ampoule shall be

discarded.

10.1.7 All exhibit bags should be labelled and sealed before they are transported for

storage, either within the facility or at an agreed alternative storage facility. This

should be the responsibility and ownership of the practitioner collecting the

items (Codes 23.3).

10.1.8 Forensic medical practitioners are categorised as individuals who pose a high

risk for DNA contamination, see FSR-P-302 section 7.5 and as such shall

provide DNA samples for elimination purposes (Codes 19.2.5 and FSR-P-302).

11. DOCUMENTATION

11.1 Exhibit labelling

11.1.1 The packaging of all items shall be labelled so that it allows for the chain of

custody to be tracked. As a minimum, labelling shall include:

a. a unique identifier (for example, barcode or a combination of date/case

number/operator/consecutive numbering);

b. description of the item;

c. the person and/or location from which the item was collected.

d. the date and time that the item was collected;

e. the name or identifier of the person who collected the item.

11.2 Note taking and record keeping (Codes section 15)

11.2.1 Any decision made by the professional shall be recorded along with the reason

for making the decision. Where an expected course of action is not followed,

then the reason for doing so shall be documented in the record.

http://fflm.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Recommendations-for-the-collection-of-forensic-specimens-from-complainants-and-suspects-FSSC-Jan-2016.pdf




11.2.2 Notes shall contain sufficient detail to enable the practitioner to generate a

statement, if required, at a later date.

11.3 Statements and reports (Codes section 25)

11.3.1 Due regard should be taken of the disclosure obligations and the requirements

set out in the Criminal Procedure Rules and Criminal Practice Directions

((Ministry of Justice) for experts. Though duties to the court of professional

witnesses and experts are similar, it should be borne in mind that the court can

deem an individual an expert to give an opinion based on their experience and

knowledge; in addition, opinion evidence may rely on the statements provided

by other practitioners22 Legal obligations are set out in FSR-I-400 and

disclosure requirements in the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and

the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance for experts.

12. REVIEW

12.1.1 The Forensic Science Regulator welcomes comments. Please send them to the

address as set out at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/forensic-

science-regulator, or email: [email protected]

13. ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviation Meaning

ACPO Association of Chief Police Officers, now replaced by the

National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC)

CoP College of Paramedics

CPS Crown Prosecution Service

DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid

FFLM Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine of the Royal College of

22 The forensic scientist may rely upon the statement from the forensic medical practitioner when evaluating

and forming an opinion of their scientific findings.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/forensic-science-regulator


mailto:[email protected]




Physicians

FSR Forensic Science Regulator

HCP Healthcare Professional

ISO International Organisation for Standardization

PPE personal protective equipment

SARC sexual assault referral centre

UKAFN United Kingdom Association of Forensic Nurses

14. REFERENCES

ACPO/CPS (2010) Guide Booklet for Experts May 2010. Available from:

http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/d_to_g/disclosure_manual/annex_k_disclosure_ma

nual/index.html [Accessed 07/09/2014].

Ballantyne, K., Salemi, R., Guarino, F., Pearson, J., Garlepp, D., Fowler, S.

and van Oorschot, R. (2015) ‘DNA contamination minimisation – finding an

effective cleaning method’, Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, vol. 47,

issue 4, pp 428–439.

British Standards (2016) BS ISO 18385:2016 Minimising the risk of human

DNA contamination in products used to collect, store and analyse biological

material for forensic purposes. Available from:

http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030289935

Criminal Practice Directions. Available from:

https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/publications/criminal-practice-directions-2015/

[Accessed 07/12/15].

Criminal Procedure Rules Published by the Ministry of Justice on behalf of the

Criminal Procedure Rule Committee. London: Ministry of Justice. Available

from: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/1490/contents/made [Accessed

07/12/15].

http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/d_to_g/disclosure_manual/annex_k_disclosure_manual/index.html

http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/d_to_g/disclosure_manual/annex_k_disclosure_manual/index.html

http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030289935

https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/publications/criminal-practice-directions-2015/

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/1490/contents/made




Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (2016) Quality Standards in Forensic

Medicine. Available from: http://www.fflm.ac.uk/wp-

content/uploads/2014/04/Quality-Standards-in-Forensic-Medicine-February-

2016.pdf [accessed 21/07/2016].

Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (2016) Quality Standards for nurses

and paramedics. Available from: http://www.fflm.ac.uk/wp-

content/uploads/2016/06/Quality-Standards-for-Nurses-and-Paramedics-

General-Forensic-Medicine-May-2016.pdf [accessed 21/07/2016].

Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (2016) Recommendations of

Collection of Specimens from Complainants and Suspects 2016. Available from:

http://www.fflm.ac.uk/publications/recommendations-for-the-collection-of-

forensic-specimens-from-complainants-and-suspects-3/ [Accessed 29/06/2016].

Forensic Science Regulator Codes of Practice and Conduct for Providers and

Practitioners in the Criminal Justice System. Birmingham: Forensic Science

Regulator. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/forensic-

science-providers-codes-of-practice-and-conduct [Accessed 29/06/2016].

Forensic Science Regulator DNA contamination detection: The management

and use of staff elimination DNA databases, FSR-P-302. Birmingham: Forensic

Science Regulator. Available from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dna-contamination-detection

[Accessed 29/06/2016].

Forensic Science Regulator The control and avoidance of contamination in

crime scene examination involving DNA evidence recovery, FSR-G-206,

Forensic Science Regulator. Available from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dna-guidance [Accessed

13/07//2016].

Forensic Science Regulator Legal Obligations for Witnesses Providing expert

evidence, FSR-I-400. Birmingham: Forensic Science Regulator. Available from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fsr-legal-guidance [Accessed

29/06/2016].







http://www.fflm.ac.uk/publications/recommendations-for-the-collection-of-forensic-specimens-from-complainants-and-suspects-3/

http://www.fflm.ac.uk/publications/recommendations-for-the-collection-of-forensic-specimens-from-complainants-and-suspects-3/

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/forensic-science-providers-codes-of-practice-and-conduct

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/forensic-science-providers-codes-of-practice-and-conduct

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dna-contamination-detection

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dna-guidance

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fsr-legal-guidance




Forensic Science Regulator The control and avoidance of contamination in

laboratory activities, involving DNA evidence recovery and analysis, FSR-G-

208. Birmingham: Forensic Science Regulator. Available from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laboratory-dna-anti-

contamination-guidance [Accessed 29/06/2016].

General Medical Council ‘Good Medical Practice Guide’. Available from:

http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/good_medical_practice.asp [Accessed

29/06/2016].

King’s College London and Metropolitan Police Service (2015) Cleaning

project. Personal communication to the Forensic Science Regulator DNA

specialist group meeting. 10 July 2015.

National Institute of Justice Forensic Technology Center of Excellence,

(2011) Comparison Study of Disinfectants for Decontamination, Award No.

2010-DN-BX-K210. Available from: http://www.nfstc.org/wp-

content/files//Decontamination_Study_-_Revised_247.pdf [Accessed

13/07//2016].

Nittis, M., Stark, M. (2014) ‘Evidence based practice: Laboratory feedback

informs forensic specimen collection in NSW’, Journal of Forensic and Legal

Medicine, Vol. 25, pp38-44.

15. GLOSSARY

DNA clean area: Area in which appropriate DNA contamination prevention

measures should be maintained at all times.

DNA contamination: The introduction of DNA, or biological material containing

DNA, to an exhibit, or subsample derived from an exhibit during or after its

recovery from the scene of crime or a person. In the context of the Facility this

could occur for any of the following reasons.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laboratory-dna-anti-contamination-guidance

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laboratory-dna-anti-contamination-guidance

http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/good_medical_practice.asp

http://www.nfstc.org/wp-content/files/Decontamination_Study_-_Revised_247.pdf

http://www.nfstc.org/wp-content/files/Decontamination_Study_-_Revised_247.pdf




a. Poor practice23 employed by staff using fixtures and fittings and/or

collecting forensic samples.

b. DNA contamination from anybody who has had access to the forensic

waiting room and/or the medical examination room. Here key risk groups

are people from whom elimination DNA profiles have not been taken and

included in an elimination database (FSR-P-302), and therefore may be

inadvertently associated with a crime rather than being identified as

contamination. These may include visitors, contractors and people

accompanying a complainant into the forensic waiting room and/or the

medical examination room.

c. Insufficient use of cleaning regimes, or ineffective cleaning reagents used,

as part of a general forensic clean or a subsequent deep clean.

d. Residual DNA from the manufacture/maintenance of fixtures and fittings

that have not been deep cleaned.

Consumables: Single-use commodities used in the collection, preservation and

processing of material for forensic analysis, which are bought and used up

recurrently. These include personal protective equipment, tamper evident

containers, swabs, and packaging that come into direct contact with the material

for forensic analysis. A consumable can also be equipment used in the

collection, processing and safe handling of the material, for example,

disposable tweezers and scissors.

Facility: For the purpose of this document, this includes any room or area used

for receiving persons for examination, medical examination and/or sample

collection/storage.

Forensic DNA grade: Consumables certified to having met the requirements in

BS ISO 18385:2016.

Human DNA free: Human DNA is not detectable by the most sensitive DNA

profiling techniques available.

23

It should be noted that even good practice does not eliminate the risk of contamination; it only helps to minimise it.




Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Items, for example, clothing and

gloves, which are used to prevent skin and mucous membrane exposure when

in contact with blood and body fluid on or from any complainant. PPE is also

worn to protect the practitioner from contact with harmful chemicals, for

example, during decontamination, and to minimise the chance that the wearer

causes inadvertent DNA contamination.

Practitioner: For the purpose of this document, the term is used to describe

personnel involved in the recovery of material for forensic analysis, including

those who are responsible for cleaning and DNA contamination, for example,

forensic physicians, forensic nurses, paramedics and crisis workers, i.e. all

appropriate healthcare professionals.




Published by:

The Forensic Science Regulator

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Colmore Row

Birmingham

B3 2PW


ISBN: 978-1-78655-154-2


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